The brutal murder of BSP MLA Haji Alim Choudhary’s second wife could cause a major dent in his political fortunes. Choudhary’s two sons from his first wife Kamrjahan aka Kehkasha are accused of murdering her.
Sources said the Choudhary family had gained political and economic clout in a
matter of just two decades. And his rivals are now hopeful that the family feud will weaken their might.

Most of his rivals call Choudhary and his two brothers ‘shatir badmash’ (cunning crooks). “They built their political clout through money power,” said Sujat Alam, a Samajwadi Party leader who contested against him in Bulandshahr in the previous assembly elections and lost.

Choudhary had been trying to establish himself as a prominent Muslim leader in western Uttar Pradesh after two successive victories in assembly elections.

Sources said Choudhary’s second wife Rehana had a considerable influence over him. The MLA used to seek her advice on all matters and her growing influence had turned his other family members, especially his children from his first marriage, hostile.

The allegations of murder are likely to open a Pandora’s box of the MLA’s tainted past, which his rivals will gladly latch on to, said a local businessman from Bulandshahr. “Choudhary has more than 20 criminal cases registered against him under various sections of IPC including 307 (attempt to murder),” said Bulandshahr SSP Nitin Tiwari.

Chargesheets have been filed against him in some of the cases, while investigation is on in the others. These cases include allegations of child labour, in which a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. There have also been accusations of connections with the underworld, in which probe is still on, said a local police officer.

But criminal cases had hardly proved to be any hurdle in his political and business ambitions as he continued to expand his empire.

In the affidavit submitted to the returning officer before the 2012 assembly elections, he had mentioned that his wife Rehana owned jewellery worth Rs. 30 lakh as well as the New Jafrabad flat in Delhi where she was found dead. She also owned two plots worth Rs. 3.5 crore.

When contacted, his family members said that Choudhary had left for Mecca on Haj pilgrimage on Monday and that Rehana had left Bulandshahr with Choudhary on Sunday for New Delhi. They refused to discuss the reasons that may have led to the murder.